When Robots Attack: "Neuromancer" and "Robosapien" to Hit Screens

I guess the arrival of the "Transformers" has everyone scrambling for their own robotic properties. Today we learn of two new good news/bad news sci-fi projects.

Fans of William Gibson‘s "Neuromancer" book may be thrilled to learn that producer Peter Hoffman is planning a movie version. Then again, they may be disappointed to learn that the flick will be helmed by the man who gave us … "Torque." The producer says "the project is not just a good sci-fi adventure but a story full of hot topics –issues like artificial intelligence, bio-engineering and alternate theories of immortality will be dealt with dramatically." That’s all fine and good, but … "Torque," man.

In distressingly related news, producer Avi Arad will tackle his second toy line (after this summer’s "Bratz: The Movie") when he introduces "Robosapiens" to the big screen. Sort of a futuristic "Pinocchio," the movie will be about "working on artificial intelligence who creates robots for humanitarian purposes, only to discover that the corporation he works for intends them for military use. He steals one of his creations, a robot boy named Toby, who, by a series of accidents, gets lost and broken, and then found and fixed by the lonely 11-year-old son" and blah blah blah. Forgive me if I’m a little skeptical of movies based on TOYS. Plus Mr. Arad is handing the "Robo" reins to Sean McNamara, the guy behind "Raise Your Voice" and, yes, "Bratz: The Movie."

Arad is pretty clear about what he’s after: "I go after intellectual properties, whether they are comics, videogames or toys, and it’s about finding the right things with cinematic value, to make movies that have some kind of brand awareness." Notice how the phrase "good movies" never escapes his lips.